1) Q: Can you tell us a little bit about your field of study?
A: I work in the field of space science. I have a Masters in Space Science, and a Ph.D in
Physics with a space science option. Southwest Research Institute is one of the few places that provides opportunities to study space science
in the United States, which is why I came to SwRI. I study the magnetosphere, ionosphere, solar wind, and also some planetary science research.
2) Q: How did you become interested in this field of science?
A: While I was an undergraduate, I visited Clemson University. There I saw a woman doing a presentation on aurora.
A professor of Clemson who studied Ionosphere asked her a lot of questions, and I was very intrigued by that discussion.
He volunteered to work with me.
3) Q: What do you like about your job? Is there anything specific that you enjoy doing?
A: Well, I do a lot of programming, although I am not sure if that is my main interest.
I really like to figure things out for myself. I try to find questions that no one knows the answer to, then answer it.
I like the newness of this field and how nobody else does what I do. It is an international field, so I get to meet many
different people and travel to many places such as: Italy, Montana, Boulder, Washington D.C., and San Francisco.
4) Q: What were some things you did to help you study or train for this field of science?
A: First of all, a Ph.D is usually required in this line of work. I attended college for eleven years,
so most of my training was in the academic environment. A great deal of my early science education was self-taught. There is a lot
you can learn from your hobbies and apply them to your job. Hobbies can help with personal interaction.
Just take risks and speak your mind. Get out there and just do it.
5) Q: Are you working on any research with Solar Wind at the moment?
A: I am studying solar wind measurements on the ACE Spacecraft. The ACE is between the Sun and the Earth, bit much closer to the Earth. When
ACE encounters something coming from the Sun, it provides an hours notice before it hits the Earth. In Corona
Mass Enjection study, I decided to sort the data into two groups: compressions and rarefactions. I then discovered that I could
create a better formula for determining whether the spacecraft encountered a Coronal Mass Enjection or not.
6) Q: Is there any extra input that you would like to add, something a student would want
or need to know?
A: You basically have to have self-drive. Go the extra mile by reading your textbooks and science magazines outside of
school. You can learn a lot more that way. Just remember that you can do anything you set your mind on. Strive for your best.